Many people blame “spring fatigue” when they feel sluggish as the seasons change, but new research suggests the phenomenon may be more cultural than biological. Researchers from the University of Basel tracked fatigue, daytime sleepiness and sleep quality in more than 400 people over the course of a year and found no evidence that exhaustion increases during spring.
Participants were surveyed every six weeks and asked about their energy levels, sleepiness and sleep quality over the previous month. About half initially reported experiencing spring fatigue, yet the data showed no seasonal spike in tiredness. Researchers also found that changes in daylight length during the spring transition had no measurable impact on fatigue levels.
Scientists believe the widespread belief in spring fatigue may actually influence how people interpret normal tiredness. Because the term is so commonly used, people may pay closer attention to feeling sluggish in spring and attribute it to the season. Experts note that while people often sleep slightly more during darker winter months, getting more daylight, staying active and maintaining good sleep habits can help support energy levels as the days grow longer.
SOURCE:
NewsMedical, March 9, 2026